Wanted: musical instruments

LONG BEACH - Calling all dusty, unused music instruments: The Long Beach Unified School District would like to give you a new home.

The LBUSD is seeking major donations of musical instruments this year in an effort to provide instruments for all participating students and restore suspended music classes.

In addition to cellos, flutes, clarinets, saxophones and trombones, the district is looking for nearly 1,000 violins for fourth- and fifth-graders, which would cost $265,000, and 275 trumpets, which would cost the district $126,000.

James Petri, music curriculum leader, said elementary and middle schools have a huge need for instruments.

"It's important for the community to know that we're not losing music," he said. "These donations will help us reach out to more students and secure the future of our program."

The district's push to provide music instruments comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union last year alleging school districts had violated state law by charging students fees for books, uniforms and other supplies.

The lawsuit against the state of California mentioned Long Beach Unified as one of more than 30 districts in violation, claiming students at California Academy of Mathematics and Science were required to buy uniforms for mandatory gym classes.

LBUSD spokesman Chris Eftychiou said the information was outdated and that CAMS students have the option of purchasing a uniform or wearing their own gym clothes from home.

Nonetheless, the LBUSD is now taking extra precautions to make sure it is compliant with state law, Eftychiou said.

"It's a reminder to school districts everywhere to be extra cautious in areas where fees could be conceivable," he said. "We're taking that extra step and providing music instruments so that no parent feels they are compelled to rent or buy an instrument as a condition of their child's music education."

Previously, parents were expected to rent or buy an instrument for their child, he said. For those that couldn't afford it, the school would try to provide an instrument from its inventory or borrow one from another school.

Eftychiou said the policy against charging students for participation in certain activities will impact a number of areas. The major cuts in state funding to public schools have made the situation all the more challenging, he added.

Elementary and middle school students will be the most affected. Typically by late middle school and high school, students have purchased their own instruments.

For now, the district has made several changes to the music program that affect elementary schools.

Elementary students who are interested in instrumental music are being selected for the programs this month on a lottery basis. Once those students are selected, schools will determine how many of those students choose to provide their own instruments.

Remaining instruments at each school will be offered to students on a waiting list.

In addition to the lottery approach, the district has suspended third-grade strings classes along with beginning woodwinds and brass classes in fourth and fifth grades this year. Elementary schools are still offering beginning and advanced violin in fourth and fifth grades, and advanced winds in fifth grade.

Petri said the suspended programs will be restored once schools have enough musical instruments.

The district is committed to maintaining its music programs, he added.

"We're very proud of our accomplishments, and many of our programs have received national accolades," he said. "Music education is extremely important because it inspires students' creativity, self-esteem and sense of teamwork. It translates into every part of the curriculum."

The ACLU lawsuit sparked a piece of legislation, AB 165, that would have prohibited schools from collecting fees from students for classes and extracurricular activities.

Gov. Jerry Brown, however, vetoed the bill this month, stating that AB 165 "goes too far" in requiring that all 1,042 districts and 1,200 charter schools be audited.

Both new and good- quality, functioning used instruments are being accepted. Call 562-997-8175 to donate instruments, or bring instruments to a collection day scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 5 at the Teacher Resource Center, Room C, 1299 E. 32nd St., Signal Hill.

Monetary donations to buy musical instruments are being accepted by the nonprofit Long Beach Education Foundation at www.lbschools.net/give.